A New York Yankees fan who was caught on television sleeping in the stands during a game is suing broadcaster ESPN and Major League Baseball for US$10m (11.4m), due to the emotional distress it caused him.
The Smoking Gun reports that Andrew Rector, 26, filed his complaint with the State Supreme Court in the Bronx, New York last month after ESPN and MLB both broadcast images of Yankee fan nodding off in the fourth inning of the side's clash with the Boston Red Sox in April.
ESPN announcer Dan Shulman referred to Rector as "oblivious," as a camera focussed on him in his lower level seat at Yankee Stadium. Fellow ESPN commentator John Kruk added that the ballpark was "not the place you come to sleep."
According to the lawsuit, Rector said that he was subjected to an "unending verbal crusade" by the ESPN announcers.
MLB is also being sued along with ESPN for airing footage of Rector asleep on their website, which fellow users were able to comment on and mock the Yankees fan.
